Steam actuated automatic rotary drill



June ,16, 1931. P. JONES I 1,810,247

STEAM ACTUATED AUTOMATIC ROTARY DRILL Original Filed Dec. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheer l PHILIP JONES INVEN R June 16, 1931. P. JONES 1,810,247

STEAM ACTUATED AUTOMATIC ROTARY DRILL Original Filed Dec. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENTOR' Patented June 16,; 1931 PATENT orric PHILIP JONES, OF LOS .ANGELES, CALIFORNIA STEAM ACTUATED AUTOMATIC ROTARY DRILL Original application filed December 10, 1927, Serial No. 289,143. Divided and this application filed June al stress on the drill pipe by which they are. rotated, shall be' substantially constant.

In drilling wells by the rotary method the drill bit is kept in constant revolution on the bottom of the hole by means of a string of drill pipe through which a stream of mud laden fluid is conducted to the bottom of the hole, this fluid washing away the .bit cuttings and carrying them to the surface outside of the drill pipe. This pipe is revolved by a rotary table geared to 'a suitable source 9 of power, a squared pipe or Kelley joint passing through a corresponding opening in the rotary table and being screwed to the upper end of the drill pipe string.

The entire weight of the drill string cannot be allowed to rest on the bitwhich cuts on its end face onlyas the great weight of such string in even a relatively shallow hole would lock the bit solidly on the bottom, causing the 'pipe to be twisted off if the rotativc effort at the-upper end of the string were continued.

The drill pipe is therefore suspended from the upper part of the derrick by means of a wire line rove through a pair of multiple blocks (crown block and traveling block),

one end of this line being spooled on a winding drum with brakes, by the rotation of which the drill string is raised or lowered. The opposite end of the line may be deadended, but is more commonly spooled on the calf wheel drum, from which it may he paid out. as required. Suitable intermediate connections, such as a hook attached to the lower or travelling block, a swivel, and an elevator clamped around the upper end of the drill string. permit the latter to rotate while the block and lines retain a substantially fixed position.

In drilling by the rotary method the rate oi prpgrcss in depth, for .any given hard- Serial No. 378,371.

resistance of the material being penetrated to the action of the bit, the pipe twisting, off if this limit be exceeded. It follows that the highest rate of progress (the most hole) will be made when the bit is caused to exert a constant pressure on-the bottom of the hole, this being the pressure which will set up the highest torsional stress which the drill pipe will carry with safety.

In rotarydrilling without the use of any kind of automatic control the rate of feed is controlled manually by the operator, who releases a small amount of line from the winding drum at short intervals, thus pa ing the drill string downward. During these intervals the elasticity of the line and other parts of the supporting mechanism continue to lower the bit at a decreasing rate until it substantially ceases to make hole. The disadvantages of such manual control are evident. The bit can operate at its maximum pressure and efliciency only during an exceedingly brief periodafter.

paying out line, and an error in judgment by the operator in releasing too much or too little line will either freeze the bit and cause atwist-ofi or will sustain the bit at too low a pressure, causing inefiioient operation. The operator having no guide to torsional stress other than the growl of the drive gearing, the speed of the prime mover or similar phenomena having only a loosely indicative value, and a twist-oil being an expensive and painful occurrence,.is-likely to keep on the safe side by keeping the torsional stress a'nd bit pressure at all times below the maximum. It follows that in spite of the greatest skill and vigilance,

ferential gearing, hydraulic jacks controlled by levers or other mechanical linkage, and devices in which the wei ht of the drill string is partially supported by the ressure of the mud-laden fluid circulate there through.

All these devices are burdened by excessive complication. The diiferential gear apparatus is responsive and dependable, if properly designed, but is almost prohibitively expensive both as to first cost and maintenance and is not readily adaptable to existing, nearl chinery. The ydraulie systems heretofore proposed are not sufficiently responsive, are liable to failure from unforeseen causes,-and are too costly to be practicable. The floating devices are relatively chea but fail completely in any case of loss 0? fluid due to penetration of a porous stratum, and fail to maintain the requisite-constant pres sure on the bit.

In my invention these objections are largely overcome by the use of a hydraulic suspension for the drill string, so arranged that the pressure of the fluid in the hydraulic cylinder is governed by an automatic distribution of the steam supplied to the engine driving the rotatin mechanism. Because of its extreme simp icity in all of its various forms this arrangement is cheap and readily maintained, is dependable as to the maintenance of a constant pressure on the bit, is sharply responsive to changes in character of material encountered, and is readily adapted toany steam driven rotary drilling unit (to which its usefulness is restricted) without departing in any particular from standard construction.

My basic invention-the control of pressure in the hydraulic unit by an automatic or spontaneous distribution of the steam supplied to the driving en inemay be applied in various ways and y various means without in the least departing from its spirit. One such application is illustrated, without limiting my invention to the specific forms disclosed, in the accompanying drawings and the following description thereof. n the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in diagrammatic elevation a simple modification of my invention in which the speed of the pump supplying fluid to the hydraulic unit is controlled by a steam actuated diaphragm valve responding to standardized drilling mavariations in steam pressure in the pipe supplying the driving engine, a fixed or a magually controlled leakage orifice being use 1 Fig. 2 shows in diagrammatic elevation, on a reduced scale, a modification in the ap lication of my invention in which the jac being set at or near the level of the derrick floor, may be iven a much greater len 11 than is permissible when it is placed in t e position indicated in Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic ilustration in cross section of a diaphragm valve as indicated at 19 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section'of the same valve.

Referring to Fig. 1, numeral 5 indicates a hydraulic unit suspended by an referred means from the travelling b 0c 6. This unit comprises a cylinder 7, a piston 8 longitudinally slidable therein, a piston rod 9 rigidly affixed to said piston, and a stuffing box 10 through which the piston rod may reciprocate without substantial leakage. A vent 11 is provided at the upper end of said cylinder for the maintenance of atmospheric pressure above the piston. The

lower end of the piston rod is attached by any the elley joint, this means including a swivel, not shown, by which the hydraulic unit is relieved from rotation as the drill pipe rotates. A pipe or other connection 13 is provided at the lower end of cylinder 7 for the introduction and release of the fluid by which the piston is actuated.

The hydraulic unit above described is commonly known and used and I lay no claim to its use other than as a means for putting my invention into practice.

A steam actuated drilling engine of any preferred type is indicated at 14, this engine driving the rotary table 15 throu h transmission apparatus, not shown. Tie engine is supplied with steam from a boiler or other source of supply, not shown, through a main steam line 16 controlled by a manual valve 17 and communicating without further control with the drilling engine 14:.

A branch steam line 18, communicating with pipe 16 between valve 17 and the source of steam supply, admits steam to the cylinder 20 of a pump 21. The flow of steam through this line is controlled by an automatic valve 19. The water end 22 of" this pump takes suction through a pipe 23 on a supply of water or other suitable fluid contained in a tank 24, said fluid being discharged through a pipe 25 and a flexible conductor 26 to the connection 13 through which it passes into the space below the piston 8. By the passage of fluid into this space the piston is raised and with it the drill string and the bit attached thereto.

pgeferred means to the upper end 12 of' from the jack, thus tendin From the discharge-line 25 or, if -preferred, from an opening in the bottom of cylinder 7 a pipe 27 leads back into tank 24 or to the open air if preferred. At any convenient point in pipe 27 is placed an orifice plate 28 which permits fluid to escape to lower the piston 8 at a rate controlle by the size of the orifice and the pressure thereon.

The fitting 28 may be a simple hard metal plate having a perforation or orifice through its center and being retained betweenztwo pipe flanges, or it may be any one of the well known orifice plate fittings, or itma even be a valve or cock set by hand to a esired opening. The requirement is for an 0 ening for the escape of liquid from the ack, which opening must be of such nature that it may be maintained substantially constant in area while the apparatus is operating {under any given adjustment.

A branch pipe 29 communicates with pipe 16 at a point between valve 17 and engine 14, and with the weighted diaphragm 30 by which steam valve 19 is operated. The diaphragm unit should be so linked to valve'19 that an increase in steam pressure inpipe 29 will tend to open the valve and thus increase the speed of the pump. I

A valve and cooperating diaphragm adapted to be used in the combination-193O of Fig. 1 is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In these figures the diaphragm unit 30 is spaced from pipe 18 by straps 43, and it has the usual domed case 44 and flexible metallicdiaphragm 45 forming a closed expansible vessel. The body of valve 19 is divided by a partition 46 in which is formed a seat '47 which is closed by a disc 48. To the disc is atfixed a pin 49 passing through a stuffing box 50, the length of this pin being such that the disc may be in the seat when the vessel 30 is under atmospheric pressure and the diaphragm fully retracted. Any increase in pressure within the vessel causes the diaphragm to move upwardly and to increase the distance between the disc and the seat, thus permitting an increased quantity of steam to flow through the valve.

In place of the very simple design shown, which isintended to be illustrative only, it is desirable to substitute a more refined type of valve such as a butterfly throttle or any of the well known type of internally balanced valves.

Referring toFig. 2, the outline of a derrick is indicated at 31 and the drilling line at This line is spooled at one end on the winding drum 33 and at the other on the calf wheel drum 34. passing from the latter over a fixed sheave 3-35, then through a sheave 36 moved by the piston of hydraulic unit 37, and is rove through the crown block 38 and the travelling block 09 in any usual or preferred manner. The pipe 40, communiparatus functions is as follows. A supp y of steam "at substantially constant pressure on pipev 16 above valve 17 being assumed, this valve is opened to such extent as will drive engine 14 and thereby rotate table 15 at a preferred speed while maintaining a referred bit pressure, both of these options eing governed by the type of 'drillingapparatus used and lying solely in the udg'- I ment of the operator. A suppl of steam from line 16 will flow through line 18 and drive pump 21 at a speed which is governed by the relative opening of valve 19. The fluid discharged by the pump tends to lift the piston 8 while leakage through orifice 28 tends to lower it, so that if orifice diameter be properly adjusted against pump discharge at normal speed and bit pressure, piston 8 will maintain a constant height in cylinder 7 As the bit cuts itself free in the bottom of the hole the rotation-producing load on engine 14 will decrease and the engine will accelerate, thus reducing the steam pressure in that portion of pipe 16 lying below valve 17. This reduction in steam pressure, being transmitted to the diaphragm chamber, will decrease the opening of valve 19, slowing down pump 21and thus permitting more fluid to pass through orifice 28 than is supplied by the pump. This in turn permits piston 8 to subside, increasing the weight and pressure on the bit, re'establishing the rotative load on the engine, reducing its speed and increasing the steam pressure in pipe 16 below the valve, thus opening valve 19 and speeding up the pump until the point is reached where pump discharge and orifice leakage are again in balance, with the piston at a slightly lower level than before. This constant and entirely spontaneous rebalancing of pressures feeds the bit downward, by steps so minute as to be practically continuous, mamtammg a substantially constant pressure of the bit on the bottom of the hole.

While I have shown a pumpdirectly actuated by steam or an equivalent fluid as .a means for supplying fluid to the jack, it will be understood that a power pump driven by any fluid-actuated prime mover the speed of which may be controlled by the reciprocating motion of a steam-actuated diaphragm or equivalent device is the full equivalent of said steam pump.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for controlling the pres sure exerted by a rotary well-drilling bitv on the bottom of the hole being drilled, comprising: a steam-actuated engine adapted to rotate said bit; a hydraulic jack adapted a to raise and lower said bit; a steam-actuated pump adapted to force fluid into said jack for raising said bit; an orifice communicating with said jack ada ted to permit escape of fluid therefrom or lowering said bit; means for admitting steam into said pump for actuating said pump; valve means for controlling the flow of steam into said pump; steam actuated means for controlling the opening of said valve means, and a means for admitting a flow of steam under pressure to a means of communication between said engine and said valveeontrolling means.

a paratus for controlling the pres rotary well-drilling bit hole being drilled, comsated engine adapted to wil a hydraulic jack adapted nd rower bit; a steam-actu adapted to force fluid into said -.aising said bit; an orifice commating with said jack ada )ted to per zit escape of fluid therefrom ior lowering bit; means for admitting steam into said. pump for actuating said pump; valve means for controlling the dew of steam into said pump; diaphra n. means for controliing the opening of valve means, and a means for admitting flow of steam under pressure to a means of communication between said engine and said diaphragm means.

8, An apparatus for controlling the pressure exerted by a rotary well'drilling bit on the bottom of the hole beiu l filled, comprising: a steam-actuated engine adapt said bit; a ii xdraulc jack adaptd to and lower said bit; pumping means vied to force iuid into sa d jack for ng said hit; an ce communicating .11 said jack adap 1 .a permit escape of lowering said bit; ied to control the is, and a means a under prestion. between iling means and the 1s simuitanecontroiling the pres sure exerted r well-drilling bit on the bottom of the hole being drilled, comprising: a steam-actuated engine adapted to to said bit; a hydraulic ack adapted to bit; pumping means n o said ack for ice communicating permit escape of owering said bit; to control the speed of said pumping means, and a means for admitting a flow of steam under pressure to a means of communication between said engine and said diaphragm means whereby said engine is actuated and the speed of said pumping means is simultaneously controlled.

5. In an apparatus for controlling the feed of a rotary well-drilling bit which includes a steam engine rotating said bit, a pipe supplying steam to said engine, a valve in said pipe, a hydraulic jack raising and lowering said bit, fluid-actuated pumping means for supplying fluid to said jack for raising said bit and an orifice communicating with said jack for permitting escape of fluid from said jack for lowering said bit; a means for automatically controlling the speed of said pumping means, comprising: a stcamactuated reciprocating means adapted to control the supply of fluid actuating said pumping means and a means of communication between said reciprocating means and that portion of said steam-pipe situated between said valve and said engine.

6. In an apparatus for controlling the feed of a rotary well-drilling bit which includes a steam engine rotating said bit, a pipe supplying steam to said engine, a valve in said pipe, a hydraulic jack raising and lowering said bit, fluid-actuated pumping means for supplying fluid to said jack for raising said bit and an orifice communicating with said jack for lowering said bit; a means for automatically controlling the speed'of said pumping means, comprising a diaphragm means adapted to control the supply of fluid actuating said pumping means and a means of communication between said diaphragm means and that portion of d steam-pipe situated between said valve :2. i said engine.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of June, 1929.

PHILIP JONES. 

